Preparing students for future success
Summer internships are a vital part of the law school journey, offering students a chance to explore career paths, develop practical legal skills, and build meaningful professional networks. Through the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI), Iowa Law continues to support students passionate about public interest and public service careers in environmental law by providing summer stipends that make these experiences possible. With the support of HELI funding, students pursue summer internships after their first and second years of law school—gaining experiences that help shape their futures and expand their impact.
Over the 2024–2025 academic year, the HELI team built and strengthened partnerships with a broader range of environmental organizations whose work focuses on issues relevant to Iowa and neighboring states. Thanks to these efforts, HELI is proud to support 15 Iowa Law students in securing impactful summer placements for 2025. This year, more than 86% of student placements are with organizations based in Iowa or the surrounding Midwest states.
These students, recognized as Hubbell Scholars, represent the future of environmental leadership. As Hubbell Scholars, they not only receive financial support but also join a growing network of passionate advocates and professionals committed to environmental stewardship and public service. Their work this summer will directly contribute to real-world solutions while building the foundation for their legal careers.
For Summer 2025, students are gaining valuable experience with the following organizations:
Clean Wisconsin
Driftless Water Defenders
Ducks Unlimited
Environmental Investigation Agency
Illinois Environmental Council
Iowa Environmental Council
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
Missouri Coalition for the Environment
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Polk County Air Quality Division
Sierra Club – Iowa Chapter
Sierra Club – National Organization
The Nature Conservancy – North America Agriculture Program
University of Iowa's Environmental Compliance
Meet the 2025 Summer Hubbell Scholar Interns
Below are profiles of each student selected for summer support by the HELI and Career Services teams.
Lucas Buckrop, Class of 2026
Hometown: Taylor Ridge, IL
Where are you working this summer, and what will you be working on? I will be working at Ducks Unlimited. My work will consist of various types of projects, including researching issues related to real estate, conservation, contracts, fundraising, and taxes.
How has/will this funding support make a difference in your education and/or professional goals? Receiving a grant from HELI made this job opportunity possible for me. Without it, I would not have been able to take an unpaid summer position. I chose to work for Ducks Unlimited because it aligned with both my personal and professional interests. My career goals involve doing work related to real estate and property law or serving as in-house counsel, so being exposed to property and business-related issues will help me gain experience that will benefit me in the long run. Personally, I am interested in land management and conservation, so being able to work for an organization who focuses on these aspects on environmental law was extremely intriguing.
Why is environmental or public interest work important to you? As an avid hunter and fisherman, conservation is extremely important to me. I enjoy nature and understand the value of our natural resources. If land and wildlife are not managed appropriately, habitat will be destroyed and populations will be depleted as humans continue to expand into previously undeveloped areas. Therefore, people must take active roles in ensuring that wildlife populations and natural habitat, along with conservation practices and hunting rights, are protected for future generations to enjoy.
How do you plan to use this position or experience to create change? By working at Ducks Unlimited, I hope to help the organization increase the amount of land enrolled in conservation programs and protect people’s abilities to hunt waterfowl and other animals sustainably in the future. Wildlife relies on having habitat for survival, so if organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited, did not work to protect these resources, more land would be developed for human use and wildlife would suffer. Thoughtful wildlife management practices also need to be advocated for so that hunters can continue our traditional ways of life without depleting natural resources and wildlife to unsustainable levels. I plan to use my experience with these practices and issues at Ducks Unlimited to help me assist farmers and landowners enroll in land management programs in the future.
What is one fun fact or a notable life experience about you? I went on my first deer hunt with my dad when I was in grade school and went on my first duck hunt with my cousin a few years later. These experiences changed my life, and I have loved the outdoors ever since. Now, I spend the majority of my free time outside doing something on the farm, fishing, or hunting deer, turkey, waterfowl, and elk. I hope future generations are able to enjoy the outdoors like I do for many years to come.
James Feeney, Class of 2027
Hometown: Bettendorf, IA
Where are you working this summer, and what will you be working on? I am working at Polk County Public Works in the Air Quality Division. My duties will include reviewing new county air quality regulations and the Iowa Administrative Code to help prepare new permit application materials. I will also help to prepare new public facing documents to help the public understand the air quality regulations required within Polk County.
How has/will this funding support make a difference in your education and/or professional goals? This funding will enable me to get valuable experience in working in the field of environmental law. I hope to be able to learn about how the environment is regulated locally, and how the environmental law field can affect Iowan’s everyday livelihood.
Why is environmental or public interest work important to you? I feel that by earning a law degree and learning to be an advocate, I should choose to advocate for people and causes that I truly care about. I hope to work towards creating a healthier world for those around me and for those who will continue to live in it far into the future. As the legal world offers so many different paths, I feel that a path that works for the good of all is one that I want to be on in my life.
How do you plan to use this position or experience to create change? I plan to be able to have a lasting effect on how people can understand and interact with Polk County’s Air Quality Division through helping to refine the permitting process and general understanding of the regulations. I hope that this can help the public to see why this field is so important and how their everyday activities have an effect on the world around them.
What is one fun fact or a notable life experience about you? I currently am an IGHSAU/IHSAA referee for high school soccer in Iowa!
Sean Hilzendeger, Class of 2027
Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
Where are you working this summer, and what will you be working on? The Iowa Environmental Council, working on many Environmental Law Topics, potentially including a Swampbuster case.
How has/will this funding support make a difference in your education and/or professional goals? This funding is helping keep me afloat during law school, and also made me reach out further from home when I was searching for employment.
Why is environmental or public interest work important to you? I think it is important to keep our world habitable and clean for us and future generations.
How do you plan to use this position or experience to create change? I plan on using this opportunity to the fullest extent and learn as much as possible to become a better lawyer in the future.
What is one fun fact or a notable life experience about you? I used to do conservation work in North Dakota.
Mateen Karimi, Class of 2026
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Where are you working this summer, and what will you be working on? I will be working at the Office of Environmental Compliance at the University of Iowa. This office is located with the Facilities Management Department at the University of Iowa, which assures that local, state and federal environmental laws are met during the design, construction and operation of UI facilities. Thus, I will be doing all things environmental compliance.
How has/will this funding support make a difference in your education and/or professional goals? This funding will make a huge difference in my education and professional goals. It not only pays off some of my school expenses, but it also allows me to focus on the work and not worry so much about “whether I am getting paid.” I would do this work without pay anyway because it is that important. Water quality and air quality are no joke. We all depend on our natural resources to stay alive and do the things we love. Being financially supported is simply a cherry on top that allows me to pursue my passions, gain more competency in this field, and also encourages me to work even harder to make Iowa Law proud.
Why is environmental or public interest work important to you? There are so many reasons. I will keep it straightforward. Environmental work is important to me because it is important. We have no choice but to care. I care very deeply about these issues, and I want to play a role in this space.
How do you plan to use this position or experience to create change? This is a great question. While I do not expect to create a lot of “change” initially, I do expect to gain much more insight on the flip side of the coin. Last summer, I worked for an environmental nonprofit, which is hyper focused on clean air, clean water, and environmental justice in the state of Iowa. That perspective is generally a big proponent of command-and-control regulation, meaning we need to regulate industry and those in the private sector to hold them accountable for the impacts they have on the environment. There are, of course, other creative ways to push private actors into being more environmentally-friendly, such as market incentives as an example. Yet, regulating industry is the go-to solution because it is attractive, it works, and it makes the public feel like we are doing something about the problem.
However, this summer I have the chance to see the total flip sign of the coin, the perspective of the regulated. The University of Iowa is a massive Big Ten university, hosting approximately 30,000 students, not to mention the working professionals at the University and the broader community that uses its campus. After learning about the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other important regulatory schemes in depth, I now have the opportunity to see how these laws really work in action, not to mention state and local rules and regulations. I think this opportunity will broaden my perspective of what “environmental work” looks like as an attorney and better round out my understanding of where I can make the most impact.
What is one fun fact or a notable life experience about you? I was born in Iowa City. Thus, it is quite ironic that I will be working at the University that brought me into this world. The University of Iowa has a special place in my heart. So, it just makes sense to give back and be a part of its future.
Cara Meyer, Class of 2027
Hometown: Golden Valley, Minnesota
Where are you working this summer, and what will you be working on? I will be working at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, conducting research and supporting ongoing litigation.
How has/will this funding support make a difference in your education and/or professional goals? Thanks to HELI's funding, I get to spend my summer working at a nonprofit organization doing legal work I care about - and get paid for it. I greatly appreciate this support.
Why is environmental or public interest work important to you? The health and safety of our communities, not just in the future but in the present moment as well, depends on us taking action to mitigate the impacts of climate change. As someone who loves spending time outdoors in all seasons, whether that be cross-country skiing, camping, biking, or going on walks, it's important for me to work towards creating a more sustainable world.
How do you plan to use this position or experience to create change? One issue MCEA focuses on is Environmental Justice, which looks at how it is most often marginalized communities who are most exposed to environmental pollution and the chronic health issues this can engender. I look forward to learning more about their efforts and how they collaborate with affected communities.
What is one fun fact or a notable life experience about you? During the year between high school and college, I took a gap year in Germany, where I got to experience the joys of widespread public transportation and their strictly followed color-coded recycling system.
Veronica Miller, Class of 2026
Hometown: Crete, NE
Where are you working this summer, and what will you be working on? Sierra Club - Oakland, CA, intern with Environmental Law Program (ELP). The ELP develops and prosecutes the legal strategies for the Sierra Club’s nationwide grassroots campaigns, which focus on promoting smart energy solutions, building safe and healthy communities, and protecting the nation’s wild legacy. ELP law student interns work on many aspects of litigation, including undertaking legal research, preparing written memoranda, and conducting factual investigations.
How has/will this funding support make a difference in your education and/or professional goals? Without financial support from HELI summer stipends, public interest work like this would not be possible for many students, including myself. I worked at a firm last summer but felt encouraged after taking Wildlife & Habitat Conservation Law and Administrative Law with Prof. Roesler to explore a public interest opportunity in environmental law. Without HELI's advocacy in promoting positions like these and financial support to make them more accessible, my upcoming summer would look very different.
Why is environmental or public interest work important to you? I came to law school because I believe lawyers are some of the best people equipped with the skills to solve some of our communities' most pressing challenges. Public interest environmental work at the Sierra Club is exactly one of those places working diligently to address issues through the legal system using grassroots environmental work.
How do you plan to use this position or experience to create change? Working for the Sierra Club combines many of my interests in law school: public interest work, litigation, administrative law, protecting the environment, and social justice. I know I will be able to contribute in meaningful ways to the important work and mission of the Sierra Club. Fighting for environmental protection at national, regional, and local levels is one of the most effective ways I see being able to create positive change in our communities.
What is one fun fact or a notable life experience about you? I lived in Spain after I graduated from undergrad and taught English at a public high school, including one-on-one tutoring with Ukrainian refugees.
Expanding professional networks and impact
The Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, made possible by the vision and generosity of Iowa Law alumni Charlotte Beyer Hubbell (76JD) and Fred Hubbell (76JD), provides an active platform for interdisciplinary engagement on critical environmental issues. HELI supports students, enhances the environmental law curriculum, and works to raise the bar for environmental leadership in Iowa and beyond.
HELI is proud to continue expanding its network of partner organizations to offer students even more opportunities to make a difference while gaining real-world legal experience. Organizations interested in hosting a summer intern in the future are encouraged to contact HELI at lawmail-heli@uiowa.edu.
Join us in congratulating and wishing our 2025 Hubbell Scholars success as they embark on these exciting professional journeys!